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Berlin
19.04.2012 . Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday 19.04.19 hosted the leaders of Nigerians resident in Germany in his Ritz Carlton hotel Berlin suite, during a three day working visit at the Federal republic of Germany. Accompanying the president on the interactive session were the governors of Adamawa and Anambra states, six Ministers in the cabinet including the Ministers of power, water resources, environment, trade and investment, foreign affairs and interior, the Ambassador to Germany Abdu Abubakar as well as the minister of foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru. In his address, Lambert Ahamefule, the Chairman of the Nigerian Community Germany introduced the other NCG officers present: Arc Mike Osayimwen (National asst: secretary), and Clief Isaiah Ilikannu (National treasurer), thanked presisident Jonathan for the opportunity and welcomed him to the Federal republic of germany. He congratulated his government for the successful staging of the internationally acclaimed 2011 nigerian general elections which he won. He lauded various accomplishments the regime had made and also asked for sustained efforts in combating the recent menace of terrorism. He requested that the nigerians in diaspora be given voting rights at the next general elections, as well as be more engaged in developing the nation. He also asked that the creation of a second consulate in a more central location in Germany be considered. Ahamefule assured that the nigerians in Germany would remain worthy ambasssdors of the fatherland. The president thanked the NCG leader and addressed the issues raised. He said this was his first official trip to the federal republic of Germany and was pleased to meet the leaders of the nigerians resident there. He noted the importance, and support nigerians abroad provide back home, and said there are efforts being made to see that they could register and vote in the 2015 general elections -albeit for the posistion of president and governors only. He stated that the appointment of three vice chancellors resident in other countries named among the nine to head the new universities recently was an indication of the readiness of the government to tap into the rich pool of gifted and well qualified nigerians abroad. He added that the Boco haram threat was a new type but the government had made successful steps in curtailing, vowing to eradicate it completely in 2012. He called for the NCG and NIDO to work hand in hand to the benefit of the great nation. On the creation of a second consulate in Germany, he stated that the priority would be to bring all existing Nigerian missions to good standard. Rounding up, Jonathan said this was an official visit with given constraints, but however looked for a subsequent opportunity in a state visit where there could be more time to parley with a broader spectrum of the nigerians. Other leaders that accompanied the NCG officers to the meeting include officials of NIDO and the Elders forum. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Berlin
19.04.2012 A welcome address presented by the Chairman of the Nigerian Community Germany e.V. Mr. Lambert B.M. Ahamefule on the ocassion of the Reception for the President and the Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR; on his Official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. Your Excellency, the President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Your Excellency, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Germany, Your Excellecies Ambassadors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Press, Representatives of the Nigerian Community Germany, invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; On behalf of the Nigerian Community Germany e.V. I am highly delighted to welcome Your Excellency; President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and all members of his entourage on this official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. We appreciate that inspite of your very tight diplomatic schedules you are still able to make out time to interract with us. We thank you and heartly welcome you, Mr. President. Your Excellency, one year ago, you were elected President in what many international and local observsers consider to be the most credible election in Nigeria since the country`s return to multi-party democracy in 1999. Most significantly, the elections were conducted under your able leadership following laid down rules and regulations. The success of the election remains a good testimony to your strong commitment and personal resolve to improve the Nigerian electoral process and give the country a solid foundation for strengthening its democratic institutions. Congratulations, Your Excellency! However, inspite of the successes of the April 2011 elections, more still remain to be done to improve Nigeria`s electoral procedures and more importantly to strengthen the country`s democratic institutions and governance. In this regards, the disenfranchisement of millions of Nigerians living in the diaspora remains indeed a matter of serious concerns. We must consider the voting right of the great number of Nigerians living in the diaspora and the invaluable contributions they make towards the economic and political growth of the country. Let us not forget that most of these diaspora Nigerians are well educated, highly skilled, sufficntly exposed and enlightened; and as such, their full participation in the national electoral processes irrespective of wherever in the world they may reside, will in no small measure, go along way towards the improvement of the Nigerian electoral democrcy. Nigeria is strategically very important to the entire global community and a lot depends on the success of the country as one viable and united nation. According to Johnnie Carson, a US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs: “We cannot run away from the facts. Nigeria is probably the most strategically important country in sub-Saharan Africa. At about 160 million people, Nigeria is home to over twenty percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population. It is the largest oil producing state in Africa, it is the fifth largest supplier of crude oil to the United States, and the tenth largest global producer. In the United Nations, Nigeria is the fifth largest peacekeeping contributing country in the world. And as the most influential and militarily powerful member of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria has played a key role in helping to resolve every major political and security dispute in West Africa from the Liberian and Sierra Leonian crises in the 1990s to the recent political problems in Guinea, Niger, and the Cote d’Ivoire, and I might add to that, Mali. Indeed, Nigeria is a dominant economic and financial force across West Africa.” Nigeria`s success is therefore very important to the world, but that success cannot be achieved unless Nigeria overcomes the challenges that have frustrated its progress. Decades of poor governance have seriously degraded the conutry`s health, edudcation and transportation infrastructure. Despite hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue, Nigeria has virtually no functioning rail system to connect the different regions of its expansive land mass. Only half of its population of 160 million people has access to electricity, even the 80 million Nigerians who have electricity only share intermittent access to power supply. Nigerians are hence, yearning for progress and improvement in their lives. Life for many in the country is tough and in some areas rather grim. The gap between the rich and the poor is dangerously too wide and keep widening day by day. The statistics is disturbing; public opinion polls and news reports suggest that there is a strong sentiment through out the country that government is not doing enough to alliviate the suffering of the poor masses and that their poverty is as a result of government neglet, corruption and abuse. These trends are worrying for econmic, political and security reasons. Over the last few years, capitalizing on popular frustrations with leaders, poor government sevice delivery, and the dismal living conditions of many Nigerians, the combined axes evils of armed kidnappings, killings, robbery and terrorist attacks have created widespread insecurity across the country, increased tension between the various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off foreign investors and generated concerns among Nigerian neighbors. The attacks on churches and mosques by Boko Haram are particularly disturbing because they are intended to inflame religious tensions and upset the nation`s social cohesion. Fundamentally, Boko Haram seeks to exploit religious differences to create chaos in order to humiliate and undermine the government and make Nigeria ungovernable. Mr president the time for swift action is now. Any further delay may not only be very dangerous but grossly inexcusable. While more sophisticated and targeted security efforts are necessary to contain Boko Haram`s act of violence and to capture and prosecute its leaders, the government must also win over the population by addressing the social and economic problems that have created the environment in which the axes of evil can thrive. By becoming more responsible and responsive to the people`s aspirations, the government can distance itself from the accusations that it is blind to the needs of everyday Nigerians. Despite all the challenges that the country faces, Nigeria is simply too important to be defined by its problems. Nigeria must be defined by its promises and its enormous potentials, as well as the resourcefulness of its people. While some may seek to inflame Muslim-Christian tensions, Nigeria’s ethnic and religious diversity is a source of strength, not weakness, and there are many examples of communities working across ethnic and religious lines to protect one another. The forces that are holding the country together are stronger today than the forces that are pulling Nigeria apart. Nigeria still remains the giant of Africa, and we remain optimistic about its long term future. Finally, Your Excellency, while wishing you a wonderful time here in Germany, we also wish you the best as you face the challenges at home. We believe that your remarkable political experience and strong committment to good governance will help you to serve the nation and promote the influence of Nigeria in Africa and the world at large. It is our fervent hope and prayer, that God will guard and guide you towards providing a leadership based on the golden principles of fairness, justice and equity for the benefit of all Nigerians irrespective of political, ideological, ethnic and religious inclinations. Your Excellecy, we look forward to receiving you again here in Germany in the near future; and wish you and your entourage all the best and safe journey back home to Nigeria. Thank you for your time. Long Live the Fedral Republic of Nigeria ! Long Live Federal Republic of Germany !! Lambert Ahamefule
Chaiman, Nigerian Community Germany – NCG e.V.; Thursday, 19 April 2012 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wife of NCG stalwart passes on
10.04.2012 With heavy hearts and deep sense of sorrow, we announce the passing on to glory of the wife of our National treasurer, Chief Isaiah Ilikannu - which sad even occured on the 30th of March 2012. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Burial arrangements: Wake keeping
Saturday, 21st April
20:00
Stadtteil Projekt Sonnenland
Sonnenland 13, D-22115 Hamburg Lying in state
Monday 23rd April
11:00
St.Pauli Kirche
Pinnasberg 80, D-20359 Hamburg Busline 112 till “Hafentreppe-Busstop or Reeperbahn S-Bahn Station
Burial Ceremony
Saturday, 9th June in Hamburg Hamburg
17:00
Billstedter Hauptstr. 51 D-22111 Hamburg
Signed
Nigerian Community Germany e.V.
National executive ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nigerians in Germany celebrate 51st Nigeria Independence day 
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Nigerians in Germany Condemn Bomb Attacks in Abuja
Nigerians in Germany utterly condemn what are apparent vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent citizens. We join with our people and other nations in calling for swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral. |
